Regeneration

Local government delivers services which without exception are the backbone of communities across Wales. They help support the social, environmental and economic well being of communities and provide the framework for prosperity. In essence much of local government’s role is central to sustainable regeneration and renewal.

Local authorities are uniquely placed in this process as they are close to the people they serve, responsive through local democratic structures and have a clear community leadership remit.

The role of local authorities
Local authorities help deliver economic development and improved prosperity to local areas. They do this in partnership with other key players such as the communities they serve, the third sector and the private sector. They are also increasingly working with other local authorities within a wider geographical area, be it with specific area programmes such as the Heads of the Valleys and the Môn a Menai initiatives, and other sub-regional and regional arrangements, and on a spatial level through the Wales Spatial Plan.

The Welsh Assembly Government’s National Economic Development Strategy, Wales: A Vibrant Economy (WAVE) was published in 2005. This sets out the Welsh Assembly Government’s vision for a vibrant Welsh economy delivering strong and sustainable economic growth by providing opportunities for all.

Important national challenges are:

• raising total employment
• reducing rates of economic inactivity
• raising gross domestic product (GDP) in Wales
• increasing the skills base of the workforce
• increasing levels of research and development and innovation
• regenerating the most deprived communities through initiatives such as Communities First
• ensuring that economic prosperity is spread across Wales

The One Wales agreement underpinning the Labour Plaid Cymru Coalition Welsh Assembly Government includes the following priorities:

• creating jobs across Wales – implement a labour market strategy with a long term goal of full employment
• stimulating enterprise and business growth
• promoting tourism
• enhancing skills for jobs
• regenerating communities
• supporting rural communities

Key challenges
These challenges need to be met by:

• a renewed national policy framework
• a corporate approach to regeneration both within local authorities and within the Welsh Assembly Government
• adequate funding and delivery vehicles for regeneration
• effective use of and maximising the funds from the 2007-2013 European Structural Fund programmes across Wales
• moving away from a grant dependency culture to a loans and investment culture through taking advantage of the opportunities offered by initiatives such as those of the European Investment Bank

Key facts
Wales continues to be amongst the poorest regions of the United Kingdom, and the European Union, measured by Gross Domestic Product per head and household income.

• Economic activity in Wales is currently 76.6% compared to a UK average of 78.8%
• Wales has the lowest Gross Value Added (GVA) per head of population in the UK at £13,800
• West Wales and the Valleys is amongst the bottom five NUTS 2 areas in the UK with the lowest disposable household income after tax
• Around £3 billion of funds are available to Wales through the European Structural Funds Programmes and match funding from 2007-2013
• The Communities First programme supports over 100 of the most disadvantaged wards in Wales. A consultation on the next stage of this programme will be launched at the end of 2007

Further information
Wales: A Vibrant Economy (WAG)

Communities First

Wales Spatial Plan

Heads of the Valleys

Môn a Menai Programme (WAG) – Press Releases

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